Randolph Finally Shedding His Rep

DALLAS -- Zach Randolph just figured this day never would come.

At age 28, he is the oldest of the nine players who will be making their first NBA All-Star appearance Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. He also has been the most maligned, arguably the most un-All-Star-type personality in the game.

Randolph always had this kind of talent. He just never had the respect -- and understandably -- of those who picked the teams. Those days finally have changed.

"The fact is, Zach is a pretty damn good player, but he's been hurt by his reputation much more than he probably should have been,'' said Western Conference coach George Karl. "Once you get a reputation, it can linger a long time in this league.''

Randolph, through his first eight years in the NBA, had been described as a cancer, a castoff, a coach killer and black hole. His reputation was well-earned, first in Portland as part of the Jail Blazer years, then with the Knicks and Clippers, bad teams with an every-man-for-himself mentality.

This year in Memphis, though, they are calling him a long-shot candidate for the Most Valuable Player Award. A change of scenery for him has been like a change of seasons, from winter to spring.

"Coming to Memphis was the best thing that could have happened to me,'' he said. "They had a good young team in place, and I knew I could be their missing link.''

Randolph, the 6-9, 260-pound power forward, is averaging 20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, one of just two NBA players (Chris Bosh is the other) who crack the revered 20/10 mark. Last season, he was one of just four players to finish a 20/10 season.

"I've matured. I've grown up, but sometimes mistakes you make early never leave you. I was fortunate Memphis wanted me.''
- Zach Randolph "I've actually had better seasons before, but you know how it is. You get a label, and you just can't shake it, no matter what you do sometimes,'' Randolph said. "I've matured. I've grown up, but sometimes mistakes you make early never leave you. I was fortunate Memphis wanted me.''

He has led the surprising Memphis Grizzlies from the depths of the NBA -- seasons of 22, 22 and 24 wins -- back to respectability with bright hopes for the future.

He leads the league in offensive rebounds (4.3 rpg). He has a good young center beside him (Marc Gasol), a pair of promising wing players (Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo), along with a coach (Lionel Hollins) who is making it work.

Randolph was such a long-shot to make the All-Star Game that he wasn't even on the All-Star ballot. Measured against the 28 forwards from the West who were on the ballot, Randolph was fourth in scoring and first in rebounding.

"Too often, people judged me by what happened off the court and ignored what I did on the court,'' he said. "And it bothered me, but I'd like to leave the past behind.''

Randolph, who came into the league as the 19th pick of the 2001 Draft from Michigan State, was part of an era in Portland that the Trail Blazers would like to forget.

In Portland, he was charged with marijuana possession and nabbed driving while intoxicated. He sucker punched teammate Ruben Patterson in a practice. An MTV Cribs episode with him aired with known felons at his home. Yet his issues were tame compared to some of the other characters on that Portland roster. There was Qyntel Woods, who was running a dog-fighting operation, Patterson, the registered sex offender and a host of other problem players.

"It was just a bad time to be there,'' Randolph said. "But that's long ago.''

On the court, Randolph always excelled statistically. After his first two seasons when he played sparingly, he averaged at least 17.6 points and 8 rebounds through the next six seasons. He is heading toward his fifth 20/10 season.

He was traded to New York in 2007, then traded to the Clippers early last season. He was labeled selfish, a post player who never passed the ball, and a poor defender. Both labels have faded in Memphis.

He has had three games this season of at least 30 points and 15 rebounds. He had 32 points and 24 rebounds against Denver, the first time in the NBA anyone has hit those marks together since 2003.

"To this point, being at the All-Star Game has been the highlight of my career,'' he said. "But I won't be saying that if I can help us get into the playoffs. That's what we're shooting for. That would really make my season. Then that other stuff will fade away.''